Wapak wins second-ever playoff game

Wapakoneta head coach Doug Frye yells out instruction to Redskin quarterback Kyle Gibson on Friday night in a playoff game against Franklin (Staff Photo/John Zwez)

By

JOHN S. HULLINGER

FRANKLIN — The Wapakoneta Redskins scored 18 unanswered points to overcome an early deficit and pull away to a 24-13 win over the Franklin Wildcats (9-2) in a Division II regional football quarterfinal Friday night at Atrium Stadium in Franklin.

Wapak upped its record to 10-1 on the season and earned a trip to Piqua High School next Friday where the Redskins will take on the No. 1-ranked Trotwood-Madison Rams in regional semifinal action.

“It feels great,” senior cornerback Connor Metz said. “10-0 was the goal. We couldn’t get that. Ten wins was the next goal. Now we’ve got to take another step.

“We want to get 11 wins for the first time in school history. That’s a big goal.”

Trotwood-Madison shellacked Hamilton Ross 53-7 on Friday.

Connor Pickens carried the ball 26 times for 193 yards (7.4 per carry) and three touchdowns.

“This wasn’t easy,” Wapakoneta head coach Doug Frye said after his first playoff win as the Redskins' head coach. “We’re not a playoff experienced team. We’ve not been through this before. We’re on the road. We’re in a tough environment. It was an adjustment for our kids and I thought they stepped it up.”